Combined toy table and playhouse.



P. BUTLER.

COMBINED TOY TABLE AND PLAYHOUSE.

AIPLIOATION FILED MAB-25,1910.

Patented May 16,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NI/ENTOR Qua/am WITNESSES:

P. BUTLER.

COMBINED TOY TABLE AND PLAYHOUSE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB.26,1910.

992,337. PatentedMay 16,1911.

2 SHEETS-8HBET 21 THE NORRIS PETERS ca, wAsHmcrdN, Dv'C TIN COMBINED TOYTABLE AND IPLAYHOUSE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERCE BUTLER, residing at Louisville, in the countyof Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Toy Table and Playhouse, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in childrens toys andmore particularly to a convertible table and house.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy table which isboth entertaining and instructive to children, and which is providedwith members which are normally concealed from view, said members beingadapted to be readily shifted to create a toy house.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means forlocking the said members in position when the invention is arranged inthe form of a table.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which isextremely simple in construction, easy of adjustment and cheap tomanufacture.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts, hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out inthe claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within thescope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodyingthe invention, and showing the parts assembled to form a table. Fig. 2is a perspective view of the device showing the parts assembled to forma play-house. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the deviceshowing in the left half, the elements assembled to form a table, and inthe right half the corresponding elements assembled to form a house.Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device showing in theleft half the elements assembled to form atable, and in the right halfthe corresponding elements assembled to form a house. Fig. 5 is anenlarged edge detailed view of the locking device, and Fig. 6 is anenlarged detailed side view of the locking device.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Serial No. 551,508.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figuresof the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises a table provided witha preferably rectangular body comprising side rails 22, end rails 33,and legs 4, of any suitable size and material, and which may be securedtogether in any suitable manner.

Transversely centrally arranged across the body and secured to the railsthereof, is a diaphragm '5, which not only gives rigidity to the parts,but divides the body into upper and lower compartments.

Respeotively secured to the upper edges of the side rails 22, by hinges14, are mem bers 11. These members project beyond the said end and siderails and normally rest thereon, the inner longitudinal edges of thesaid members normally abutting against each other. In this position, thesaid members form the top of the table. Secured to the inner edge ofeach member by a hinge 15 is an extension-piece 6, the outer edgethereof being beveled. The said members 11 at their lower edges at eachend of the table are provided with striker plates 13,which are suitablyrecessed to receive the members of the locking device, hereinafter morefully described. On the inner side of each end rail 3, and near thediaphragm 5, are arranged hinges 16-16 to which are secured members 77which constitute the gable ends of the house. These members are eachformed at the top to resemble a chimney. On the outer side of eachmember 7, is secured by a hinge 19, a roof extension 8; the hinge beingso arranged that the said roof extension 8 will readily fall to ahorizontal position when the member 7 is in an upright position.

Secured to each side rail 2, below the diaphragm 5, by hinges 17 arehouse wall members 9, which are painted or decorated externally in anysuitable manner to resemble a house. These members 9 may be provided, ifdesired, with doors and windows. These wall members, when lowered, fillthe side spaces between the legs 4, when used as a toy-house, as will behereinafter explained. Arranged beneath the wall members 9 and securedto the end rails 3, by hinges 18, are end house members 10, which areadapted, when lowered, to fill the end spaces between the legs 4, whenused as a toy-house.

l/Vhen the parts are assembled to form a table, as shown in Fig. 1,means are employed to lock the said hinge members against accidentaldisplacement. These means are preferably arranged at each end of thetable body and comprise a vertical shaft 12, provided at its upper endswith T-heads 120, which turn in the recesses formed in the members 1,above the striker plates 13, above referred to. The bottom of the shaftis provided with a lug 121, adapted to engage the lower surface of thelowermost wall member 9. The said lug 121 is provided with a projectingthreaded operating arm 11, by which the shaft may be turned. It will benoted that as the shaft is turned the T-head 120 is disengaged from therecess above the striker, plate 13 and simultaneously the lug 121 isdisengaged from the wall'member 9, thereby permitting the raising of theroof member 1 and the dropping of the wall members 9 and 10.

In setting up the house, after the abovementioned means has beendisengaged, the extension-pieces (3 of the members 1 are swungoutwardly. The gables 7 are then swung upwardly into a vertical positionand the roof extensions 8-8 are folded downwardly in a horizontalposition. The extensions 6-6 of said top members 11 are then broughttogether bet-ween the gables 7 7 the beveled edges 6060 of theextension-pieces 6-6 abutting together to form the apex of the house. Itwill also be noted that the ends of the said members 1-1 extend beyondthe gables. When the said gables are positioned vertically, the roofextensions 8- 8, which are hingedly connected thereto, drop by gravityupon the said extending ends of the members 1-1 and thereby complete thetop of the roof beyond the gables.

To convert the play-house into a table, the top pieces 11,with theirextension-pieces 6-G, are raised sufiiciently to permit of the gables7--7 to be folded inwardly into their concealed position above thediaphragm 5, and between the said side and end rails. Theextension-pieces 66 are then swung to a position under the said topmembers l1, and the said members 1-1, together with the extensions (3-6,are then dropped downwardly upon the rails to ointly form the top forthe table. The end wall members 101O and the side wall members 99 arethen folded upwardly to a position below the diaphragm 5, and betweenthe said end and side rails. In this position, the gables, together withthe roof extension, end and side walls, are all arranged within the sideand end rails and below the top of the table. The shafts 1212 are thenrotated as before explained, to lock the various parts in the abovedescribed positions.

lVhat I claim is 1. A convertible table and house, comprising incombination a frame, side and end members hingedly connected to theframe for forming the walls of a house, and top members hingedlyconnected to the frame for forming the roof of a house.

2. A convertible table and house, including a frame, members hingedlyconnected to the frame to form in one position a table top, and othermembers connected and cooperating therewith to form in another positiona roof of a house.

3. A convertible table and house, including a frame, members hingedlyconnected to the frame to form in one position a table top, andextension pieces hingedly connected and cooperating therewith to form inanother position a roof of a house.

-it. A convertible table and house, in eluding side and end rails,members hingedly connected to the side rails to form in one position atable top, and extension pieces connected and cooperating therewith toform in another position a roof of a house.

5. A convertible table and house, including side and end rails, membershingedly connected to the side rails to form in one position a tabletop, extension pieces connected and cooperating therewith to form inanother position a roof of a house, and members hingedly connected tothe end rails to form roof gables.

6. A convertible table and house, including a frame, supporting legs forthe frame, and members hingedly connected to the frame for forming inone position the walls of a house.

7. A convertible table and house, including a frame, supporting legs forthe frame, members hingedly connected to the frame for forming in oneposition the walls of a house, and means for locking the members to theframe in an inoperative position.

8. A convertible table and house, including side and end rails, membershingedly connected to the said rails for forming the walls of a house.

9. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination, side andend rails, a top consisting of two tiltable members respectivelyhingedly connected to each side rail to form in one position a portionof the roof of the house, extension-pieces respectively hingedlyconnected to the inner edges of the said members to form in one positionthe apex of the roof, and upright pieces respectively hinged to the endrails and adapted to be folded beneath the plane of the top or raised toan upright position to form roof gables.

10. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination, side andend rails, a top consisting of two tiltable members respectivelyhingedly connected to each side rail to form in one position a portionof the roof of the house, extension-pieces respectively hingedlyconnected to the inner edges f of the said members to form in oneposition the apex of the roof, and upright pieces respectively hinged toeach end rail so that each may be folded beneath the plane of the top orraised to an upright position to form roof gables, each upright providedwith a hinged roof extension adapted when the said upright pieces arevertical to fit between the two tiltable members of the top.

11. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination, side andend rails, supporting legs connected thereto, a transverse diaphragmcentrally arranged within the rails, roof forming members hingedlyconnected to the rails above the diaphragm, some of the members formingin one position a top for the table, and house-wall members hingedlyconnected to the rails below the diaphragm and adapted in one position.to be arranged between the legs of the said table and in anotherposition to be concealed from view between the rails and below thediaphragm.

12. A toy table comprising legs, a rectangular body and divided top,extensionpieces hingedly connected to the top, the top and extensionpieces being adapted to be arranged in an inclined position to form theroof of a house, gable members connected to the body and adapted toengage with the pieces of the top when inclined, and house Wall membersconnected to the body and depending therefrom.

13. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular frameconsisting of side rails and end rails, supporting legs connectedthereto, a top in two pieces, one hinged to each side rail and adaptedto be swung thereon, to form roof members, extension-pieces, oneinfolded against each top piece and adapted when unfolded to be broughtto engage each other to form a roof peak, in combination with house wallmembers hinged to the side and end rails and adapted to be folded withinthe body and unfolded to convert the device into a house.

14. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular frame,supporting legs connected thereto, a divided hinge top, an extensionpiece hinged to each top piece, gable pieces hinged to the frame, housewall pieces hinged to the frame, and means for securing the top andhouse wall pieces together so that the device constitutes a table.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

PIERCE BUTLER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. COURTENAY, Jr., Bn'r'rm A. ALLMoNn.

Copies of this patent ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

